It was here that I first observed the manner in which
fishes die. As soon as the creature sickens, the head sinks lower
and lower, and it stands as it were on its head; till, getting weaker,
and losing all poise, the tail turns over, and at last it floats on the
surface of the water with its belly uppermost. The reason why
fishes, when dead, swim in that manner is very obvious; because,
when the body is no longer balanced by the fins of the belly, the
broad muscular back preponderates by its own gravity, and turns
the belly uppermost, as lighter from its being a cavity, and because
it contains the swimming-bladders, which contribute to render it
buoyant. Some that delight in gold and silver fishes have adopted a
notion that they need no aliment. True it is that they will subsist for
a long time without any apparent food but what they can collect
from pure water frequently changed; yet they must draw some
support from animalcula, and other nourishment supplied by the
water; because, though they seem to eat nothing, yet the
consequences of eating often drop from them.
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